FORT BONIFACIO, Metro Manila – The Philippine Army signed two Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the GMA Kapuso Foundation and its partner organizations for the “Kapuso para sa Kawal” Project here today, July 19, 2018.
“Kapuso Para sa Kawal” aims to assist soldiers who lost their limbs due to injuries they acquired while fighting for peace. Moreover, beneficiaries will be provided with free prosthetics, counseling and physical therapy to help cope with their current state.
The Commanding General Philippine Army Lt. Gen. Rolando Joselito D. Bautista and GMAKF Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ms. Lus Annalee O. Escudero spearheaded the MOA signing. The event was also attended by the heads of other allied groups such as Dr. Victor L. Gisbert of the Makati Medical Center Foundation, Mr. Kenneth John Maccrea of Exceed Prosthetics and Orthotics, and LN4 Foundation Philippine Ambassador Ms. Grace Cabato.
Exceed Prosthetics and Orthotics is set to provide high tech prostheses to two soldiers who lost both of their legs while conducting peace enforcement against the terrorist in Marawi City last year.
While, LN4 Foundation aims to provide prostheses to “Injured Army soldiers with below the elbow amputations, family members of Enlisted Personnel in the active service and those honorably discharged, civilian personnel of the PA and their families with the same below the elbow amputations.” Earlier today, three soldiers namely Cpl. Michael A. Palita, Pfc. Silverio J. Cabido and Pfc. Je-Ar R. Sumagang received their prostheses; they fought heroically in skirmish against the Communist NPA Terrorist (CNT) and Abu Sayyaf Group, respectively.
Makati Medical Center caters the counseling and physical therapy session for the soldiers to get used to their new limbs.
“Ang Army po talaga ang katulong namin sa buong Pilipinas. Kapag meron pong sakuna ang [Army] ang tinatawagan namin para samahan kami sa mga malalayong lugar para mabigyan namin ng aid at relief goods yung ating mga nangangailangan na kababayan. Noong nakita namin na maraming [sundalo] ang nangangailangan ng mga prosthetic limbs doon namin naisip na sa panahon ng kagipitan Philippine Army ang nilalapitan namin so it’s about time nasuklian po namin ito,” said Escudero Catibog of the GMAKF.
In his speech, Lt. Gen. Bautista said “we would like to thank you for helping us look for the welfare of our soldiers. Your collective initiative to provide our soldiers with prosthetics, counseling and physical therapy is an act of generosity that brings new hope, boost their morale and encouragement to brace the future head on.”
“The MOA symbolizes the beginning of our fruitful partnership with compassion; we assure the Filipinos that our gallant soldiers will repay it with service with honor and patriotism for our beloved nation,” Lt. Gen. Bautista added.#